Former Treasurer Pleads No Contest In Church Embezzlement Case

Edgar Zarins, 84, pleaded no contest to an embezzlement charge Dec. 14. The former church treasurer allegedly stole thousands of dollars from St. Paul’s Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Farmington Hills church. The Westland resident served as treasurer for decades, and church member say Zarins likely stole over $150,000.

“I’m baffled by what Zarins could have been thinking on the many occasions and many years that he diverted the church’s money for his own use,” Peter Letzmann, a lawyer for the chuch, told The Voice newspapers. “Now, the church is looking to the court for help to recover what he has taken. I hope God can forgive Zarins, as I am having trouble trying to do that.”

Zarins will be sentenced in February.

Read full coverage of this story in The Voice Newspapers.

Photo via St. Paul's Church.